BOONE, Iowa—The Boone County Board of Supervisors still plan to appoint someone to be Boone County Attorney even though their original plan to have someone in place by the first of the month didn’t quite work out. The Supervisors did approve a contract this week with former Boone County Attorney Jim Robbins to oversee the office while the search for a replacement continues. Robbins will be paid on a prorated basis of just under $195 per day for the number of days he has to oversee the office. The time is limited, because the Supervisors only have 40-days to appoint someone. Robbins had told the Boone City Council that he has no desire to be there (the County Attorney’s office) than is necessary. One of his first tasks will be preparing the budget for the office for the next fiscal year.

Initially, the Supervisors planned to make their appointment by the end of January, but one of the two candidates that had expressed an interest in the appointment withdrew. The Supervisors have said they wanted more applicants to consider for the appointment. Daniel Gonnerman, Assistant County Attorney had expressed an interest in the appointment. Kelly Mahoney for Boone, an Assistant U.S. Attorney had submitted a letter of interest, then with drew from consideration the day of the interviews. No other local attorneys have expressed an interest in the appointment. The new time frame calls for letters of interest and qualifications to be submitted to the Supervisors by February 25th at 4:30. The actually search for candidates will be extended across the state. To make the position more interesting, the Supervisors have made the job full-time, something Robbins had sought to do for sometime. The Supervisors have also said there would be no private practice permitted. Pay was set at $95,000 to $105,000 per year.

While all this is happening, Boone County voters could still request a special election. There are a couple of times petitions could be submitted, the last would be within 14-days of the appointment. Nearly 1,400 signatures would be required.